Engine starter



June 3, 1930. LANSlNG 1,760,988

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Nov. 23, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 1 June 3, 1930. R LANSING 1,760,988

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Nov. 23 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 3, 1930. R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTER Original'Filed Nov. 23 1925 f1 Sheets-Sheet. 3

June 3, 1930.

R. P. LANSING I ENGINE STARTER ori inai Filed Nov. 2:5 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet {1 Patented June 3, I930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE namom) P. LAENSING, or MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro ECLIPSE macnrmr. comrm, or ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK ticularly, gines-and the object thereof is ENGINE STARTER Application filed November 23, 1925, Serial No. 70,780. Renewed June-21, 1929.

My invention relates to engine star-tin apparatu's for the starting of engines suc as internal combustion engines, and more parbut not necessarily, airplane ento provide a sim le, elficient and reliable apparatus operate by an electric motor and characterized by the provision of inertia means which is realized by a novel construction of'the motor which is illustrated herein,

whereby the necessary weight or mass ,of a revolving part-thereof, either the fields or the armature itself, is obtained. In the preferred and more practical form of apparatus the apparatus is also capable of manual operation and in the operation thereof the same inertia effect is obtained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional-elevation (on an irregular line) of an apparatusembodying one form of my invention according towhich the fields of the motor are rotatable and the armature is stationary, the manual means for convenience beingv shown at right angles to, normal position; ig. 2 a section of the motor of ig. 1; Fig. 3 a section on the irregular line 33 of Fig. 2;Fig. 4. asection on the line 44 of F ig.2 ;-and Fig. 5 a section of a modified form of electric motor in which the fields are stathe armature made 'in such manner tio'nary andthe armature rotatable, but with as to give theproper inertia or flywheel effect.

- y apparatus comprises a transmission or ,drive including a driving member adapted to engage a; member' of the engine to be started and a prime inover such as an electric motor and also, in the present instance, manually operated means. The power means and the manual means may be combined in the same apparatus and maybe used separatelyor conjointly if desired whereby the apparatus may be operated-either wholly by power means or wholly by manual means. My ap- 'paratus also comprises inertia. means which in the present instance are combined in the electric motor which is so modified as to produce inertia effect when rapidly rotated.

The drive or transmission includes the drive proper and reduction gearing. First describing the drive, the same 18 located'w-ithdriving member whose other its outward position trolled manually in a main casing 1 which is suitably supported detachably connected with the of the engine, a small ortion of 4 and a shell 5 concentrically arranged there- 1 within and providing an annular space to re ceive a yielding driving connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch 6 composed of two sets of clutch plates splinedv respectively to the interior of the barrel and the exterior ofthe shell. The proper pressure for the plates is provided by a series of springs 7 located in such annular space and such pressure is regulated by the adjustable nut 8 screwing onto the outer end of the shell. The thrust of these springs tends to-force'the shell outwardly whereby the ring 9 clamps the plates together by forcing them against the ring 10 which bears agains'tthe annular internal flange 11 within the shell. V

The shell 5 is provided with internal long lead threads 12 on whichis threaded a screw shaft 13 constituting the main portion of the principal portion is a clutch member 14 that is adapted to engage the engine member, such as the cor responding clutch element 15-forminga part of or secured to a rotatable part of the engine, .such as the crank shaft 16 thereof.

shaft 13 whereby the clutch element 14 and such shaft 13 have a relative longitudinal movement of limited degree independent of each other. The clutch element 14 is held in with a yielding pressure by a coil spring 22 which bears at itsouter end 'against the bottom of sleeve. 19 and at or sleeve portion 19.

its inner end against the bottom of a socket formed in the outer end of the screw shaft. The driving member is operated and conby a rod 23 which passes centrally through the driving member and the main supporting shaft 24 of the reduction gearing. This rod terminates in a banseriesof: planetary gears tween two parallel plttes are spaced apart by dle ata point exterior of the apparatus,

together by screws 35. The inner plate 33 is connected with the driving barrel 4, in the present 'instance by being splined thereto.

This plate 33 has a a hub provided'with longitudinal grooves adapted'toreceive oppositely extending pins 38 and plateare drivingly nected together.

The pinions or gears 31 mesh with a central pinion 39 here formed as a part of the hub 40 of a gear 41 mounted to rotate freely upon the shaft 24. This gear 41 meshes with a pinion 43. which is here formed upon the hub 44 of a bevel gear 45 which is mounted to rotate freely upon theshaft 46.

whereby such shaft but detachably con- The right hand end of shaft 24 (Fig. 1) is journaledbearings 48 in casing plate 1 and extends therethrough and to such proje cting end a bevel pinion and the same 49 is secured. This part of the manual means extends into a small casing 50 secured in suitable manner to plate 1, In addition, such manual means. comprises a 'pmion forms a cranking shaft 52 extending. extraneous .of casing 50 and thereat provided with suitend with a bevel pinion 7 form in suitable manner as I able means such as the pins 53 for engage merit with an ordinary hand cranlc. This shaft 52 is journaled in ball bearings 54 and held'in proper position longitudinally by nut 55. The shaft 52 is provided at its inner 57 meshing with the corresponding pinion 49.

Next describing the combined electric motor and inertia means, the same consists of a'stationary frame or casing 58 which is secured to the upper portion of the casing 1 through the medium of a plat-form or plate 59 which is itself secured to such casing in suitable manner as by means of bolts 60. This motor frame is secured to such platby means of the screws 61. The motor proper comprises revolving fields and a stationary armature. The fields comprise fields proper indicated at 62 and a circular field frame 63 arranged to revolve within the casing or frame 58. The lower end of the field frame is provided with a bearing head 64 secured to the frame 63 by the-screws 65 and having a. hub portion 66 which is suitably operatively connected with the upper endof a vertical shaft 67 which has'at its lower end a pinion 67 suitable lugs 34 and held -vided with an armature this shaft extends meshing with the gear 45. In the present instance, this connection is through splines 68 between said parts. The hub 66 is supported by and journaled in suit. le anti-friction bearings 69-which are seated in the depressed or socketed portion of the'platforin 59. The field frame is held in proper position on the shaft 67 by the nut 71. V i

At its top, the field frame63 is provided.

-with an end head 72 having a bearing connection with the armature shaft through the bearings 73. This head 72 carries suitable brushes 74 cooperating with a. commutator 75, such brushes being connected with a col-,-

lector ring 7.6 which in turn is electrically connected to th terminal 77'by a brush 78 bearing on the ring. w Thefield frame 63, as well as its end heads constitutes not only a frame for thefields 62 but also.an inertia means for.which latter purpose such field frame is made of a predetermined weight 'or mass sufiicient for the obtaining of the necessary inertia or flywheel efi'ect.

The armature 79 which'is stationary is roshaft 80 exten ing from both cnds'thereof.

into and has its bearing in-a socket 81 intlie shaft 67 through the medium of the bushing 82. The upper end of the armature shaft is secured in the apertured upper end of the stationary frame 58 in suitable manner'as by means of the splines The lower end of I source of energy, when the motor is ener--- gized, the entire field structure including the fields 6-2 and the field frame 63 and the end heads 64 and 72 will be rapidly rotated with the result that the shaft 67 will be rotated. Inasmuch as this shaft is connected by the actuating or transmission mechanism with the driving member of the engine starter, such driving member will'be rotated but at a reduced speed owing to the reduction gearing. Inasmuch as the field structure of the motor has a considerable mass, a flywheel effect is produced and when such rotating structure reaches the desired R. P. ML. the current may if desired be switched off from the motor and the rod 23 thereupon moved that is to the left in Fig. l, and the by means of the inions structure or until the engine operates under -its own power and the driving member is sisting of plates 32 and 33 to be rotated. 'Ina'smuch asplate 33 is drivingly connected to barrel 4, the latter will be rotated and conse-t uentl the shell or nut 5 will be rotated t roug friction clutch 6.- Although shaft 13 is screwthreaded to the now revolving nut '5, it will not advance longitudinally, but will rotate'with such nut and consequently clutch element 14'will likewise be rotated, However, at this time such element is in normal position, that is out of engagement with the source of energy,-

engine clutch element 15 but .when rod 23 is moved to the left as hereinbefore explained the screw shaft will be moved longitudinally whereby such clutch elements will be brought into en mulate energy of the inertia means will be transmitted to the engine to crank the same.

When the engine starts on its own power, the excess speed of the engine and its clutch element 15 will cause the screw shaft and its clut'ch element 14 to be retracted by the screw actionbetween' the screw shaft and its sleeve or nut'5 and thereby become disengaged from the engine in automatic manner.

Next describing the manual means as the an ordinary hand crank is applied to the cranking shaft 52 and rotated v by the'operator first slowly until the revolvfield structure of the motor gathers speed thereupon more rapidly until the desired i an or predetermined'R. P.'M. of such structure is reached. It will be understood that inas much as boththe manual means and the motor areoperatively connected .With the reduction gearing the motor is necessarily r0- tated when-the-manual means is operated. In this operation, the torque is transmitted from the cranking shaft 52, through pinions 57 and 59 to shaft 24 and thence through the frpime of the planetary gears 31 to the gears 40 and 45 and thence to the shaft 67 and finally t0 the revolvingfield structure which is drivingly secured to such shaft 67. The rods 23- is now 'manipulated and the engine cranked in the same plained.

'In Fig. 5, I have shown a modification of electric motor in which the field frame85 and fields 86 are stationary while the armature 87 is rotatable and made abnormal by being given proper mass and flywheel shape so as to produce the desired inertia or flywheel manner as above exgement and the torque ofthe accu-' effect. In this construction as shown, the frame 85' is supported by and secured to the casing 1 by bolts 88 and has a top plate 89 having a central boss 90 containing the brush mechanism 91 and also a bearing 92 for journalling the upper end "of the armature shaft and for supporting. the entire armature shaft. The cycle of operation is thesame as that above described except that the armature is here the rotor and the fields the stator.

I claim:

1.. Ina self-contained engine starter for detachable association with an internal combustion engine, a drive includinga driving -member adapted to be moved to engage and crank a meinberof theengine to be started,

and a combined electric motor and inertia means .operatively and constantly connected with said drivingmember, said motor including a rotatable element which is made abnormal to provide mass and flywheel efl'ect asthe inertia means and its connections with said driving member including speed-reducing gearin 2. In a self-contained engine starter for detachable association with an internal combustion engine, a drive including a driving member adapted to be moved to engage and crank a member of .the engine to be started, and a combined electric motor and inertia means operatively'and constantly connected with said driving member, said motor including a rotatable field structure and a stationary armature,- said field structure being weighted to provide flywheel effect as the inertia means and its connections with said driving member including speed-reducing gearing.

3. In a self-contained engine starter for detachable association with an internal combustion engine, a. drive including .adriving member adapted to be moved to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, and a combined electric motor and inertia means operatively and constantly connectedwith said driving member, such connections i including speed-reducing gearing and said motor including a rotatable element which is made abnormal to provide mass and flywheel 'efi'ect as the inertia means, and manual ineans operatively connected with said electric motorand inertia means and with said driving member. a i

4. In a self-contained engine starter .for detachable association with an internal combustion engine, a drive including a driving member adapted to be moved to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started,

a combined electric motor and inertia meansfi transmission mechanism between and con- ,1125

stantly connected with such electric motor' and inertia means and the drivingmember and including reduction gearing, and manual means operatively connected with the lowspeed end of such transmission mechanism.

bustion engine,

v 5. In a self-contained engine starter for de tachable association with an internal coma driveincluding a driving member. adapted to be moved to engage and crank a member offthe engine to be started;

' a combined electricmotor and inertia means. transmission mechanism between such electric motor. and inertia means and the driving membertiaicludi'ng reduction means, and manber adaptedto he moved to engage and crank.

amember of the engine to be started, a combined electric motor and inertia means, transmission mechanism between such electric motor and inertia means and the driving member including. reduction means, and manual means operatively connected with such transberuadapted to mission mechanism and with such combined electric motorand inertia means through said reduction means.

7. In a self-contained engine starter for detachable association with an internal combustion engine, a drive including a driving membe moved to engage and crank member of the engine to be started, a combined electric motor and inertia means, transmission mechanism between such electric motorand inertia means and the member comprising-reduction means and a .lrive proper, and manual means operatively. connected directly with the drive proper and indirectly with such combined electric mo tor and inertia means through said reduction means.

her adaptedtobe moved to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a combined electric motor and inertia means,'transmission mechanism'between such electric motor and inertia means and the driving member, and including a rotatable shaft, said combined electric motor and inertia means in-. eluding a rotatable field structure comprising fields and a weighted rotatable frame to which such fields are secured, said frame being drivingly connected with said shaft.

9. In an engine starter, a drive including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a combined electric motor and inertia means, transmission mechanism between such electric motor and inertia means and the driving member and including a rotatable shaft, said combined electric motor and inertia means including a rotatable field structure comprising frame to which such fields are secured and also including a stationary armature shaft,

having a bearing for driving.

8. In a self-contained engine starter for detach'able association with an internal combustion engine, a drive including a driving memfields and a weighted rotatable.

said frame being drivingly connected with said rotatable shaft and said armature shaft having its bearing in such rotatable shaft.

10. In an engine starter, a'drivc including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engineto be started, a e .-n1bined electric motor andiiuertiameans, transmission mechanism. between suchelectric motor and inertia means andthe driving. member and including a rotatable shaft, a casing in which. said driving me mber and transmission mechanism are contained, a plate covering one end of such casing and such shaft, said-001m bined electric motor and inertia means ineluding a rotatable field structure comprisfing fields and a weighted rotatable frame to which such fields are secured and which' also bears in such plate.

11. In an engine starter, a drive including a driving member adapted to' engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, a combined electric motor and inertia'means, transmission mechanism between 'such electric motor and inertia means and the driving member and including a rotatable shaft, a

casing in which said driving 'member and transmission mechanismare contained, a plate covering one end of such casing and having a bearing for such shaft, said'combined electric motor and inertia-means 1neluding a rotatable field structure comprising fields and a weighted rotatable frame to which such fields are secured and which also bears in such plate, said rotatable shaft having a socket at its outer end, and said structurealso including a. stationary armature shaft one of whose ends is received'by said socket. y

12. In an engine starter, a drive including a driving member adapted to engageand crank a member of the a combined electric motor and inertia means,- transmission mechanism between such electric motorzand inertia means and the driving I -member and including a rotatable shaft,' a

casing in which-said driving member and transmission mechanism are contained, a plate covering one end of such-casing and having a bearing for such shaft, said combined electric motor and inertia means in.- cluding a stationary casing connected with said plate, a rotatable field strueturecomprising fields and a weighted rotatable frame to which such fields are secured and which is contained within such stationary casing, and also including a stationary armature, sai frame having'end heads one of which has hearings in such plate and the other of which has a bearing for the armature, said armature extending through such latter head and being secured against rotation to said stationar casing. 13. In an engine starter, a drive including a driving member adapted to engage and engine to be started,

crank a member .of the engine to besta'rted, a combined electric motor and inertia means, transmission mechanism between such electric motor and inertia means and'the driv which such fields are secured and which is,

- contained within such stationary casing, and also includinga stationary armature, said frame having end heads one of which has bearings in such plate and the other of which has a bearing for the armature, said armature 24) extending through such latter head and being secured against rotation to said stationary casing, said latter head having a collector ring, and a brush mounted in the stationary casing and cooperating with said ring.

14. In a self-contained engine starter for detachable association with an internal combustion engine, a drive including a driving member adapted to be moved to engage and crank a member of-the engine to be started, and a combined electric motor and inertia means, transmission mechanism operatively connecting such motor with said driving -member, said motor including a rotatable field structure and a stationary armature, said field structure being weighted to provide flywheel effect as the inertia means, and manual means 0 eratively connected with said driving mem er through such transmission mechanism.

15. In a self-contained engine starter for detachable association with an internal combustion engine, a drive including a drivin member adapted to be moved to engage an crank a member of the engine to be staited, and a combined electric motor and inertia means operatively connected with said driving member, said motor including a rotatable field structure and a stationary armature, said field structure being weighted to provide flywheel'efiect as the inertia means, and manual means also operatively connected with said driving member and with said combined .motor and inertia means.

16. In a self-contained engine starter for association with an internal combustion .engine, a driving member adapted to be moved to engage a part of the engine for cranking it, manual means for so moving the driving member at will, a combined electric motor and inertia means for connection with said driving member to rotate it and ada ted when brought to intended motorspee to store suflicient kinetic energy for efiectually cranking the engine, and operative connec '65 tions between said motor and said driving cranking of said reduction gearing.

member including a reduction er and a constantly-engaged friction clutc 17. In a self-contained engine starter for association with an internal combustion engine, a driving member adapted to be moved to engage a part of the engine for it, manual means-for so moving the driving member at will, a combined electric motor and inertia means for connection with said driving member to rotate it and adapted when brought to intended motorspeed to store suificient kinetic energy for effectually cranking the engine,,and operative connections between said motor and said driving member including reduction gearing and a constantly-engaged friction clutch, the

high-speed end of said reduction gearing being connected with the motor and the friction clutch being connected. between the lowspeed end of said gearing and said driving, member.

18. Ina self-contained engine starter for association with an' internal combustidn engine, a driving member adapted to be moved to engage a part of the engine for cranking it, manual means for so moving the driving member at will, a combined electric motor and inertia means for connection with said driving member to rotate it and adapted when brought to intended motor speed to store suflicient kinetic energy for effectually cranking the engine, operative connections between said motor and said driving member including reductiongearing and a constantly-engaged friction clutch, the high-speed end of $8.16. reduction earin being connected with the motor an the ioo friction clutch being connected between the operatively connected with the low-speed end 19. In a self-contained engine starter for detachable association with an internal combustion engine, a driving member adaptedto be moved to engage a part of the engine, manual means for so moving the driving member at will, a combined electric mo-'. tor and inertia means for connection with said drivi member to rotate it to crank the engme, and connections between said motor and driving member in- V eluding reduction gearing, a friction clutcl:i and means between the friction clutch an the driving member for automatically retracting said driving member from position to engage said engine part when the engine operates under its own power.

20. In a starter for cranking internal combustion engines, a member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be cranked, an electric motor. having a high speed rotor constituting an inertia member in which substantially all the energy necessary for cranking the engine is adapted to be stored, said inertia member being disconnected from the engine during the storage of energy therein and during the the engine, the energization of said motor being effective to store ener .in the inertia element, a member adapte to be moved into -driving engagement with a member of the engine to be cranked, after the storage ofenin-the inertia element, means including er re uction gearing for drivably' connecting said inertia element and the engine-engaging member, and manually operable means con- 22. In a starter for cranking internal combustion engines, a member adapted to be moved into'driving engagement with a member of the engine to be cranked, an electric motor having afield structure and an armature structure, one of said structures constituting a high speed rotatable inertia member in which-energy. is adapted to be stored for cranking the engine, means for drivably connecting said inertia member and engineengaging member including reduction gearing and means for moving the engine-engaging member out of drivingengagement with the engine after the engine starts under its own power, and means for moving said firstnamed member into en agement with the member of the engine to be started after the energy isstored in the inertia element.

23. In a starter for cranking internal combustion engines, I a member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be cranked, an electric motor having an armature structure and a field structure, one of said structures being rotatable at high speed to constitute an inertia'inember in which energy is adapted to be stored for cranking the engine, means including reduction gearing for drivably connecting the'inertia member and enginecngaging member, and means for moving the latter into engagement with said member of the engine to e cranked after the energy is stored in the inertia member, said engine engaging member being out of engagement with the member of the engine'to be cranked during the normal operation of the engine.

- 24. In a starter for cranking internal combustion' engines, a member adapted to be means for drivably connecting the inertia member and engine engaging member including a yieldable-friction clutch for transmitting a predetermined torque and reduction gearing, said inertia member being disconnected from the engine during'the storage of energy therein and also during the operation of the engine under its own power.

' RAYMOND P.'LANSING.

nected to said reduction gearing-for rotat-l the inertia element to store energy theremoved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be cranked, an electric -motor' having a high speed rotor constituting an inertia member in which energy for cranking thepengine is adapted to be stored, and 

